BST Hyde Park, Lollapalooza Paris cancel
Leaving large festival-shaped holes in their respective countries’ summer calendars, AEG Presents’ British Summer Time Hyde Park and Live Nation France’s Lollapalooza Berlin today (30 March) became the latest high-profile European open airs to confirm they won’t be going ahead in 2021.
In a statement, the 65,000-capacity British Summer Time (BST), which was scheduled for the second weekend of July, says both previously announced 2021 headline shows, Duran Duran and Pearl Jam, will instead take place in July 2022, with support from Nile Rodgers/Chic and Pixies plus another special guest, respectively.
“Following our review of the most recent government advice, the latest timeline means that we are unable to deliver with certainty the quality BST Hyde Park is known for in the time available,” say organisers.
“By making this decision at this stage we allow everyone … to plan accordingly”
“By making this decision at this stage we allow artists, crew, fans and everyone that comes together to help create these shows to plan accordingly.”
All BST 2020 and 2021 tickets remain valid for 2022, although cash refunds are also available from the point of purchase.
In France, where the latest regulations permit a maximum of just 5,000 people, all seated, at summer events, Lollapalooza Paris says “current uncertainties” prevent the festival from delivering its “Lolla magic” for Parisian fans this year.
The 50,000-capacity festival, which would have taken place at the Longchamp Racecourse on 17 and 18 July, had also announced Pearl Jam for 2021, with much of the 2020 line-up, which included Billie Eilish, Asap Rocky, Vampire Weekend and Khalid, also expected to be carried over.
Pearl Jam will now play next year’s festival, set for 16–17 July 2022.
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American Express named BST presenting partner
American Express is the new presenting partner for AEG festival British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park, taking over from Barclaycard.
The new partnership, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, sees the festival take the name American Express Presents BST Hyde Park. Cardmembers will have pre-sale access to tickets to all of the BST shows, as well as on-site benefits.
The festival, which last year saw headline performances from Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Robbie Williams and Florence and the Machine, will return in 2020 after securing a new two-year agreement with the Royal Parks for the use of Hyde Park.
“American Express is a valued partner of ours and I’m thrilled that the success of our relationship has expanded to the new signing of our flagship festival,” comments Paul Samuels, executive vice president of AEG Global Partnerships.
“They offer Cardmembers and fans access to the very best events and the addition of American Express Presents BST Hyde Park, will further connect fans to unforgettable live AEG experiences.”
“American Express is a valued partner of ours and I’m thrilled that the success of our relationship has expanded to the new signing of our flagship festival”
Brandy Sanders, vice president of global entertainment partnerships and experiences at American Express adds that the company is “excited to bring American Express Experiences to the heart of London culture”.
The collaboration between AEG and American Express began 15 years ago and has developed into a multi-faceted, global partnership with over 100 venues, sports teams and events across five continents, including LA Live, AEG Presents Global Touring, the O2, Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stockholm Globe Arena, Accor Hotel Arena Paris, All Points East and Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Launched by AEG in 2013, the BST concert series has featured acts including the Rolling Stone, Paul Simon, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, the Cure, Bon Jovi, Michael Bubler and Roger Waters.
BST last year received a gold status from charity Attitude is Everything for its commitment to improving accessibility and implemented a range of sustainability initiatives for its most eco-friendly edition yet.
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AEG pegs BST 2019 as greenest event yet
AEG Presents has introduced a series of new sustainability initiatives and community-based activities to make British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park 2019 its most eco-friendly and inclusive yet.
BST Hyde Park returns this Friday (5 July) with an exclusive European performance from Celine Dion. Other performances over the ten-day event will come from Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Florence and the Machine and Robbie Williams.
Sustainable practices at the event include a zero waste to landfill policy, achieved through the use of biodegradable food packaging and cutlery. Heineken, BST’s drinks partner, is trialling a new plastic-free, 100% compostable paper cup. The majority of food traders (80%) will also offer meat-free options.
A post-event litter pick-up team will ensure no trace is left behind once the festival is over and a dedicated ‘Green Team’ will maximise recycling rates, introducing a new bin system to recycle previously non-recyclable plastics such as crisp packets, carrier bags and bottle caps.
Biodiesels such as hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) will be the fuel of choice to avoid the harmful diesel emissions produced by many live events.
Situated in the heart of London, a community impact management will be on site at BST, helping AEG to limit the effect on the local area. A four-day midweek event, Open House, will take place from Monday 8 to Thursday 11 July with movie nights, live music, street food, tennis screenings, family theatre and an ambient performance from Icelandic avant-rock band Sigur Rós.
“As a ten-day event with nearly half a million visitors each year we have a huge responsibility to deliver for our visitors, the local community and Hyde Park itself”
AEG are offering training and paid employment opportunities will be available to students at schools and universities and raising money for BST’s partner charities, including the Royal Parks charity and My Cause UK.
“We work very closely with AEG Presents to ensure our Sustainability Strategy is embedded into the British Summer Time event planning process and so we welcome the pioneering green practices being introduced this year,” says the Royal Parks head of events, Alun Mainwaring.
“As a ten-day event with nearly half a million visitors each year we have a huge responsibility to deliver for our visitors, the local community and Hyde Park itself,” comments AEG Presents senior events manager Jenny Hamada.
“We take this responsibility extremely seriously and work with our partner the Royal Parks year-round to build and implement positive initiatives.”
Another focus for the BST Hyde Park team is accessibility. AEG Presents celebrated a double win at the Outstanding Attitude Awards in March and recently receiving a gold status from Attitude is Everything for BST, the inclusivity-based music charity’s highest accolade.
Tickets for BST 2019 and more information about the festival can be found here.
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BST Hyde Park receives AIE gold status
AEG Presents’ British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park has been awarded gold status for Attitude is Everything’s charter of best practice, recognising the event’s commitment to inclusivity for deaf and disabled people.
Since 2013, AEG Presents has partnered with Attitude is Everything, a charity working to improve access to live music for deaf and disabled people. The charter of best practice exceeds the legal obligations set out in the equality act, presenting measures to achieve a truly equal service for disabled customers.
In 2017, the UK Live Music Group officially recognised the charter as an industry standard.
“We’ve been working with AEG and BST Hyde Park for over five years and have been impressed by how the festival have developed their access over this time,” says Paul Hawkins, Attitude is Everything’s festivals and volunteering manager.
“Accessibility works best when it something that all staff members engage in, from a senior level to frontline staff, and this is certainly the case with Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park.
“AEG have been a fantastic company to work with and we are confident that, even with the gold award, they will continue to raise the bar for access to ensure all customers have the best experience possible at the shows,” adds Hawkins.
“Accessibility works best when it something that all staff members engage in, from a senior level to frontline staff, and this is certainly the case with BST Hyde Park”
The news comes following the event’s double win at the charity’s Outstanding Attitude Awards in March, picking up awards in the ‘customer service’ and ‘ticketing without barriers – venue/event’ categories. The event also received commendation for updates to its disabled-access provision.
Initiatives at BST Hyde Park include three accessible viewing areas over two stages and roaming drinks vendors at the Great Oak stage and Barclaycard stage. A friend or family member can gain access to the areas with an interchangeable, free personal assistant pass.
British sign language (BSL) interpreters cover every act on the Great Oak stage and accessible toilets are present at every toilet block. All pre-event information is available in audio and easy read versions and there is a dedicated access customer service team available all year via email and phone.
The introduction of guided tours will help those requiring additional assistance for navigating the site.
“Making sure our events are open to all is a top priority of ours, and we believe it truly sets us apart from our competitors,” comments AEG Presents’ senior event manager, Jenny Hamada. “Recognition from Attitude is Everything, who we’ve worked with for many years, is a heartening sign that these efforts are making a real difference.”
Headliners for this year’s BST Hyde Park include Celine Dion (5 July), Stevie Wonder (6 July), Barbra Streisand (7 July) and Florence and the Machine (13 July).
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Outstanding Attitude Award nominees announced
Music accessibility charity Attitude is Everything has announced the shortlist for its upcoming Outstanding Attitude Awards, recognising live music venues, festivals and businesses that have improved accessibility for disabled and deaf fans.
Winners will be announced in an all-access awards ceremony at Islington Assembly Hall (890-cap.) on Tuesday 12 March. Nominees are up for awards across ten categories including tech innovation, customer service, accessible infrastructure and accessible ticketing.
This year, a DIY Access Award has been named in honour of the late Nigel McCune, one of Attitude is Everything’s first trustees and board officers.
Awards nominees include large outdoor events, arenas and brands such as ticketing giant Ticketmaster, British Summer Time Hyde Park, Motorpoint Arena Cardiff (5,000-cap.) and Download Festival (111,000-cap.), which received Attitude is Everything’s gold standard for best practice last year.
Independent festivals and venues are also among those nominated, including Deer Shed Festival (10,000-cap.), London’s Roundhouse (1,700-cap.), Manchester’s Band on the Wall (450-cap.) and Leeds-based Brudenell Social Club (400-cap.)
“The Outstanding Attitude Awards highlight how everyone has the capacity to tear down barriers and make music more inclusive”
Business and events specialists Vehicles for Change, GigLoo and The Ticket Factory are also up for awards.
“There can’t be many award shows that cover nominations from live music’s biggest and most-recognised global brands, alongside outdoor toilet specialists and tiny local venues,” says Attitude is Everything chief executive Suzanne Bull MBE, the UK government sector champion for the music industry.
“That’s what makes the Outstanding Attitude Awards so special. It highlights how everyone has the capacity to tear down barriers and make music more inclusive. The only limit is our imagination, and that’s what we’ll be celebrating,” adds Bull.
The Outstanding Attitude Awards are an important component of Attitude is Everything’s Breaking the Sound Barriers programme, which provides opportunities for disabled people in live music and improves access to grassroots venues.
The programme receives funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Arts Access and Participation fund. The awards ceremony is also supported by Arts Council England.
The full shortlist for the Outstanding Attitude Awards can be found below:
Access Starts Online Award – Outdoor event
British Summer Time Hyde Park
Deer Shed Festival
Festival Republic festivals
Greenbelt Festival
Access Starts Online Award – Venue over 500 capacity
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
Southbank Centre
The SSE Arena Belfast
Access Starts Online Award – Venue under 500 capacity
Band on the Wall
Brudenell Social Club
Komedia Brighton
West End Centre Aldershot
Accessible Infrastructure Award
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society – Virgin Money Street Events
GigLoo Ltd
Vehicles for Change
Big Ambition Award
British Summer Time Hyde Park
Download Festival
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society
The Nigel McCune DIY Access Award
Made with Music Mini-Gigs
Nozstock: The Hidden Valley Festival
The Boileroom
The Rock House
The Customer Service Award
Band on the Wall
British Summer Time Hyde Park
The SSE Arena, Belfast
Victorious Festival
The Tech Innovation Award
SoundSense
The Lowry
The Ticket Factory and Nimbus
Ticketing Without Barriers Award – Ticketing / Tech Company
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society
Nimbus
Ticketmaster UK
Ticketing Without Barriers Award – Venue / Event
British Summer Time Hyde Park
Festival Republic festivals
Roundhouse
Victorious Festival
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Celine Dion to headline first day of BST Hyde Park
AEG Presents has announced that Celine Dion will headline the opening night of British Summer Time (BST) in London’s Hyde Park on Friday 5 July.
The Canadian singer joins previously-announced headliners Florence and the Machine and Robbie Williams, who will play the event on Saturday 13 July and Sunday 14 July respectively.
It is the first time that Dion will perform on Hyde Park’s Great Oak Stage and the show is believed to be her only European appearance of the year. The five-time Grammy award winner will be the best-selling artist ever to perform at BST, having sold more than 240 million record worldwide.
“I’m so excited. I love London, and it’s a great honour for me to be part of the Barclaycard presents BST Hyde Park concerts. I can’t wait… summertime in London, here we come,” says the singer.
“Celine’s record-breaking career has seen her perform her many iconic songs on the globe’s most iconic stages, yet never before in Hyde Park,” comments senior vice president of AEG Presents, James King.
“I love London, and it’s a great honour for me to be part of the Barclaycard presents BST Hyde Park concerts”
Daniel Mathieson, head of experiential marketing and partnerships for event’s sponsor Barclaycard says it is a “privilege” to welcome the singer along with “a fantastic set of headliners”.
Launched in 2013, BST Hyde Park is back this year for its seventh edition. Past highlights include the Rolling Stones’ return to Hyde Park, and comeback shows by the likes of the Strokes and Libertines.
Rock legends Bob Dylan and Neil Young were originally set to co-headline this year’s event on 12 July, but following Young’s objection to the involvement of headline sponsor Barclaycard, the pair will now play a standalone concert. On the same date, and in the same venue.
Tickets for Celine Dion’s performance go on sale on 29 January at 9am, with presale tickets available from 23 January. The remaining headliners and full line-up are expected to be announced shortly.
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BST Hyde Park announces first headliners for 2019
AEG Presents’ British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park has announced Bob Dylan and Neil Young as its first headliners for 2019.
The music legends, who between them have sold more than 100 million records, will jointly headline on Friday 12 July, backed by their respective bands.
BST has gone from strength to strength since it launched in 2013, with highlights over the past six years including the Rolling Stones’ return to Hyde Park, Carole King performing Tapestry in full and comeback shows by the likes of the Strokes and Libertines. This year’s performers included Roger Waters, Bruno Mars, Michael Bublé, the Cure, Eric Clapton and Paul Simon.
Dylan and Young both played AEG’s one-off Desert Trip mega-festival in 2016, along with the Stones, Waters, the Who and Sir Paul McCartney.
“I’m blown away by the calibre of music royalty coming to BST 2019″
AEG Presents senior vice-president Jim King comments: “Barclaycard presents British Summer Time has always tried to deliver the greatest possible one-off live experiences for music fans in London, and being able to bring together two of the biggest cultural icons together for this historic day of music counts as possibly the biggest event we have ever delivered in Hyde Park.”
“I’m blown away by the calibre of music royalty coming to Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park 2019,” adds Daniel Mathieson, head of experiential marketing and partnerships for Barclaycard. “With these legendary artists already confirmed, and many more still to be announced, you won’t want to miss it.”
Barclaycard presale tickets went on sale at 9am this morning, with general sale opening at 9am this Friday (30 November), with GA tickets priced at £75.
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Behind the scenes at All Points East
This year, AEG Presents launched a new festival, All Points East in Victoria Park. Victoria Park is a fantastic green space in the heart of a vibrant area of London, one of the most important live music cities in the world. It will be the home of All Points East for the next four years.
We were focused on creating a series of shows that widened our relationships with the artist community and music fans. We wanted to achieve this by delivering an event that complemented what we already did in London but would carry its own personality and identity.
Staging a brand-new event in a crowded market is always as much about thinking differently and creatively as it is about utilising past experience. We waited patiently for the chance to present our ideas to Tower Hamlets local authority and when the new contract opportunity arose we knew we needed to move quickly and deliver a vision that resonated with them. If we were successful, we were also acutely aware of other stakeholders we needed to connect with to ensure the event was a success on all levels, not just musically.
The often-used ‘we’re only here for two weeks’ argument never seemed the strongest way to win the hearts and minds of people who rely on parks for their family enjoyment and well-being. Being a good partner is an important part of AEG’s DNA, and being a good partner in the community even more so. We are able to do this by having the right people with the right outlook. We don’t look to compete on volume. We just want to do what we do as well as we possibly can. That allows our team to spend a little longer to make something a little better.
The real challenge for me is whether we, the industry, are giving fans what they want
The fact that Victoria Park has such a unique cultural history meant we were able to strengthen our All Points Equal event. This celebrated 100 years since some women were given the right to vote and 90 years of equal voting rights for women and men, with a rich vein of inspirational educational and historical content that kicked off the midweek programme of free-to-access activities.
Music, of course, matters the most. There is a lot of talk about the industry lacking headliners but I’ve never totally bought into that argument, which I see as a fairly limited assessment of the live music landscape. The real challenge for me is whether we, the industry, are giving fans what they want. Are we creating platforms where they return home inspired to come back for another live music experience as quickly as they are able to? That’s essentially the challenge we want our team to meet at All Points East.
All Points East was, and is, about artists who never dial it in. It was booked driven by our own musical passion, and we wanted musicians who wear their own passion on their sleeves, and always deliver. So 40,000 people came to see Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds give one of the most memorable headline performances that I have ever seen. Raw, heartfelt, sometimes brutal, and searingly honest.
While All Points East is travelling a different road to British Summer Time Hyde Park and requires elements of different thinking, there is an overriding philosophy that unites them. Both events stand for a delivery of quality. We want artists to walk out the production exit feeling they had a great time and that they were treated respectfully. Equally, we want the fans to walk out the public exit and say they had a great time and were treated respectfully.
I like to not overcomplicate things…
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LiveStyled enhances AEG ties with BST, APE apps
App developer LiveStyled has agreed a new three-year deal with promoter AEG Presents, starting with the mobile apps for this year’s’s All Points East and British Summer Time (BST) festivals.
The apps for both events, built on the LiveStyled platform, provided functionality for schedule building, site maps, artists playlists, sponsors activations and, innovatively, the ability for festivalgoers to upgrade their tickets last minute to a range of VIP options.
The deal marks the latest chapter in LiveStyled’s relationship with AEG, for which it already provides the apps for several major arenas, including London’s O2.
Jim King, AEG Presents’ festival director, comments: “It’s been an impressive first year working with the team at LiveStyled. In our first year at All Points East, we were able to successfully upgrade a large number of customers to VIP on the day, opening up a powerful new revenue stream for the festival and giving us good insight into customer movement around site.
“It’s been an impressive first year working with the team at LiveStyled”
“The app really came in to its own at BST, with a high percentage of the audience downloading. We took merchandise pre-orders through the app and the number of people choosing to upgrade their experience exceeded expectations.
“We’re now looking on to next year’s festivals and the improvements that we can bring to the apps, such as click and collect on site for food and beverage.”
LiveStyled, founded in 2014, has raised more than £2 million in investment, including £1.2m in a series-A funding round last July.
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Goldenvoice UK announces 10-day All Points East festival
AEG’s Goldenvoice UK is bringing the British Summer Time model to the East End, today announcing plans for a new ten-day event in Victoria Park next summer.
The festival, dubbed All Points East (APE) will be staged in the 213-acre east London park from 25 May to 3 June 2018, and combine two weekends of music with a BST-style free-to-access midweek offering.
The announcement follows the news that AEG Presents/Goldenvoice has been awarded a five-year contract by Tower Hamlets Council, which owns the park, for exclusive use of Victoria Park for events, meaning other festivals that have traditionally taken place in the park will be forced to move. The company has a similar exclusive on Hyde Park until 2019.
Field Day has already confirmed it plans to relocate, while Lovebox and Citadel promoter Live Nation has not yet commented.
The first music event, All Points East Festival, will take place from 25 to 27 May. Headliners are The xx, with Popcaan and Lykke Li also named in the launch announcement.
The second, APE Presents, comprises three “huge standalone headline shows”. The first to be announced is The National on 2 June, with support from the War on Drugs, Future Islands, Warpaint and the Districts.
“We’re confident that this is the most exciting new event in the country”
Similarly to BST, the four non-music days in the park will feature “entertainment, incredible food, an outdoor cinema and much more”, all free to access. The festival’s name is apparently inspired by All Points West, a short-lived New Jersey event that ran from 2008 to 2009.
“All Points East will be ten days of amazing live music, food, enjoyment and positive community engagement,” comments Jim King, AEG Presents’ executive vice-president of live music. “It’s about seeing the best artists, with the best production in one of the UK’s truly great community parks.
“We are thrilled to be able to launch this new festival concept and bring some of the world’s most exciting artists to Victoria Park. We’re confident that this is the most exciting new event in the country. We are aiming to attract the fans of credible and more independently focused artists.
“When you see the full line-up, then the vision for what we are aiming to deliver creatively should hopefully be very clear.”
Adds Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs: “The council is pleased to be working with AEG, who were selected following a rigorous procurement process to deliver some exciting events in 2018 which can be enjoyed by local people, Londoners and visitors from across the UK.”
Tickets for APE Presents go on sale this Friday (27 October) at 9am via AEG’s own AXS platform and Amazon Tickets – the official ticket agent and “official ticketing partner”, respectively – with All Points East Festival following a week later, on 3 November.
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